After two years of study and public consultation, the region will recommend council support a plan to divert heavy trucks from downtown Galt next week.
The recommendation, heading to the planning and works committee Aug. 15, will ask regional council to approve implementing a signed and enforceable truck bypass of the downtown using McQueen Shaver Boulevard.
That approval will warrant the construction of two sections of noise walls along about 240 metres of McQueen Shaver between Water Street South and Franklin Boulevard at an estimated cost of $640,000. A continuous noise wall along the entire 1.5 kilometre stretch, including sections not warranted under the region's noise bylaw, would cost an estimated $3.9 million, which is still within budget for the project.
The truck bypass could also warrant noise walls along Franklin Boulevard, from Myers Road to Elgin Street, if traffic projections are realized over the next decade.
The noise walls proposed for McQueen Shaver were promised to residents on Langlaw Drive whose homes back onto the road since noise levels will increase with the truck bypass in place.
Since McQueen Shaver opened in Aug. 2021, the region estimates about 250 of the estimated 1,000 truck trips a day have already been diverted from the route through Galt.
Staff also examined the potential of banning truck movement along the Concession Street/Main Street corridor at the request of City of Cambridge council despite the fact the Concession/Main corridor is a truck route identified in both the region’s and the city’s transportation master plans.
They concluded the region's truck route policy doesn't support diverting trucks travelling to and from the west along Cedar Street to McQueen Shaver Boulevard, saying it's not a viable alternative since it would add more than four kilometres to the route.
"This would result in very little compliance and would ultimately be challenging to enforce," staff concluded.
That part of the report disappointed Cambridge Coun. Adam Cooper, who brought forward the city's motion asking the region to include Concession Street in the truck bypass.
During a public planning meeting Tuesday, Cooper asked for the three Cambridge regional councillors, including Mayor Jan Liggett to support the inclusion of Concession, saying the bypass as proposed "is going to make an existing problem far worse."
"I've done my work on this, I've done my studies. This roundabout route actually only adds about four or five minutes to a truck's route," Cooper said.
About 41 per cent of participants in public meetings on the truck bypass proposal, including some truck drivers, agreed with Cooper that it will have a negative impact on alternative routes.
The region says it will work with businesses in the core to develop a policy on trucks used for deliveries and pick ups which could include size limits. The region estimates about 600 truck trips a day are for deliveries and pick ups in the core.
Staff believe "enforcement will be challenging, as the police officers will have to stop trucks to find out from the driver whether or not they have a delivery or pick-up in the downtown area."
Staff say the truck ban in Galt's core will have positive impacts on the downtown by fostering a safer cycling and walking environment, less traffic congestion and less air and noise pollution.
Fewer trucks are better for business and the protection of Galt's heritage buildings, according to the report.
Should regional council agree with staff, signage will be installed on Oct. 1 followed by proactive enforcement of the truck ban by Waterloo Regional Police Service in mid October.
Construction of noise walls along McQueen Shaver Boulevard would begin next year.
